Urban College Students' Emotional Suppression Linked to High Distress, Study Reveals

A multi-city study has uncovered a concerning trend among urban college students in India, with nearly four in ten actively holding back their emotions, a behavior strongly associated with increased psychological distress. The research, published in Scientific Reports, indicates that 42% of participants report medium to high levels of emotional suppression, a coping pattern that correlates with higher anxiety and depression rates.

Study Details and Methodology

Conducted between July and November 2023, the survey involved 1,628 students aged 18–29 across eight major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad. The findings emerge amid growing concerns over student mental health and emotional regulation, with experts warning that persistent psychological distress, if unaddressed, can heighten vulnerability to severe outcomes, including self-harm.

While the study does not directly examine suicide, lead author Suresh Kakollu from SRM University-AP emphasized that poor emotion regulation is a recognized risk factor in broader mental health crises. He stated, "Unaddressed emotional suppression can escalate into more serious mental health issues over time."

Understanding Emotional Suppression

Prof Rajesh Sagar from the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi explained the concept, noting, "Suppression is a conscious and deliberate effort to hold back emotions, whereas repression is unconscious. Suppressing emotions is an unhealthy way of coping and can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms like headaches and body aches."

The study found that emotional suppression was strongly linked to higher anxiety, depressive symptoms, and poorer emotional control. Students relying on this coping style also reported lower life satisfaction and overall psychological well-being.

Healthier Coping Strategies and Demographic Insights

In contrast, students who employed "cognitive reappraisal"—reframing stressful situations in a balanced way—demonstrated better emotional control and stronger well-being. However, younger students aged 18–20 were less likely to use this healthier strategy compared to those aged 21–24.

A clear gender gap emerged from the data. Female students reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress than their male counterparts. Although women used cognitive reappraisal more frequently, their overall well-being scores remained lower, suggesting additional factors at play.

Barriers to Emotional Expression and Regional Variations

Prof Sagar highlighted that fear of judgment often prevents young people from opening up. "Many feel expressing emotions will be seen as weakness. Families and institutions must create a positive environment where young people feel safe to express themselves," he advised.

He also cautioned that the post-Covid context should be considered when interpreting the findings, as that period was marked by isolation and heightened uncertainty. Nonetheless, he stressed that encouraging emotional expression remains essential for healthy development.

Regional differences were observed in the study. Students in Hyderabad reported lower use of both major emotion regulation strategies, while those in Chennai showed higher levels of both suppression and reappraisal. Participants from eastern India were less likely to use cognitive reappraisal compared to their western counterparts.